Automobile parking system



Oct. 9, 1962 R. MARTINEZ 3,957,487

AUTOMOBILE PARKING SYSTEM Filed March 6. 1961 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. PA FA EL MAZT/NEZ g A7TOAWEX Oct. 9, 1962 R. MARTINEZ AUTOMOBILE PARKING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1961 INVENTOR. 164E451. MAQT/IVEZ 14 Trap/YE)- Oct. 9, 1962 R. MARTINEZ 3,057,487

AUTOMOBILE PARKING SYSTEM Filed March 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l r I m m\\\\w I vian,-

FIG.5

INVENTOR. RAFAEL MAAflA/EZ Unite This invention relates to automobile parking system.

An object of this invention is to provide an automobile parking system comprising a plurality of platforms on a depressed circuitous track, adjacent platforms being hinged together at their inner ends in side by side parallel relation at straightaways of the track, and said platforms being swingable about their inner interpivoted ends, at curved portions of the track which interconnect the straightaway portions of the track.

Another object of this invention is to provide wheel or roller supports at the interpivoted inner ends of the platforms, resting on the depressed track.

Still another object of this invention is to provide idler wheel or roller supports for the outer ends of the platforms likewise resting on the depressed track.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide selected spaced platforms With electric motor drives for wheels or rollers contacting the depressed track.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a parking system of the character described, means to releasably interconnect edge portions of adjacent platforms, outwardly of their inner ends, at the straightaways, and to release said interconnecting means at the curves in the track, to permit swinging of the platforms around curves.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable parking system of the charac-' ter described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be smooth and positive in operation and practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

States Patent The invention accordingly'consists in the features of 1 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, developed view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is a partial top plan view of one of the latch connectors shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, \10 designates a parking system embodying the invention. The same comprises a parking area 11 in which is formed a depressed track 12. Said track 12 has a flat horizontal bottom surface 13, an inner edge surface 15. The track, as illustrated, has longitudinal straightaway portions 17 connected by curved portions 18, to transverse straightaway portions 19. It will be understood that the track may vary in shape and may have curved ends. Inside the track is a parking surface 20 and surrounding the track is a coplanar parking surface 21. The surfaces 20, 21 may be divided by marked lines 22 into substantially rectangular areas 23 each for parking one car.

The depth of the track below the upper surface may be about a foot. The width of the track may be sufficient for the length of a car, with room to spare.

Supported on the track are a plurality of car carriers 30. Each carrier has a rectangular top platform 31, thetop surface of which is in the plane of the surfaces 20, 21, and of the dimensions of a marked parkin area 23.

The platforms may be made of metal, wood or any other suitable materials. The carriers 30 are side by side in the straightaway portions 17, 19 of the track, and are disposed transversely of the track. Each platform may be supported on a pair of longitudinally spaced idler wheels or rollers at each end, supported in axles 36 extending longitudinally of the platform and supported in bearing brackets 37 fixed to the underside of the platform.

Means is provided to interpivot the inner ends of adjacent carriers. To this end, there is fixed to the underside of an inner corner 40 of each platform 31, as by rivets 41, a plate 42 extending sideways beneath the adjacent corner 43 of the adjacent platform. The corners 43 are rounded and each is formed with a through opening 44. Fixed to plate 42 is an upstanding pin 45 rotat ably received in hole 44. Fixed to each plate 42 are axles bearing brackets 46 carrying an axle 47 for a wheel or roller 48. The axle 47 is disposed between adjacent platforms and therebeneath. Said axles are parallel to the longitudinal side edges 31a of the platforms 31.

With this structure, the platforms will remain in side by side relation when the platforms are moved, in the manner hereinafter described, on the straightaway portions of the track and will permit the platforms to swing around curved portions of the track.

Means is provided to move the interconnected platforms around the track. To this end, each of selected spaced platforms carry motive drive means. In the drawing, four such platforms, designated by numeral 50, are shown, although the number and spacing of such platforms may be varied. The platforms 50 are like the platform 31 except that automobiles will not be driven onto them. Mounted on each platform 50 is an electric motor 51 connected by reduction gearing 52 to a horizontal shaft 53 beneath the platform carrying a drive wheel or roller 54 contacting the bottom surface 13 of the track. The motors may be energized through any suitable electrical circuit which may be under control of an operator on one of said platforms, in the same manner that an electrically operated train is under control of motorman. For this purpose, third rail system may be resorted to.

Means is provided to releasably interconnect adjacent platforms. To this end each platform (31 or 50) has a transverse slot extending to one of its longitudinal edges 31a and a shorter slot 61 extending to its opposite longitudinal edge. The slots 60 of each platform are aligned with the edges 61 of adjacent platforms. The slots 60, 61 are located preferably about half-way between the ends of the platform.

Fixed to the underside of each platform, as by screws 62, is a bar 63 transversing the end of slot 60. Fixed to the underside of each platform, as by screws 64, is a plate 65 formed with a slot or notch 66 registering with slot 61. Plate 65 carries a pivot pin 67 transversing the notch or slot 66. Pivoted to said pin 67 is a lever latch 68 having a lug 69 adapted to engage beneath plate 65, a portion 70 projecting up through slots 66, 61, a portion 71 extending from portion 70 and extending into slot 60 and over bar 63, and a downwardly projecting hook 72 to engage said bar. Extending from lug 69 is a weighted arm 74 extending in a direction opposite to said lug and spaced beneath portions 71, 72. The weighted arm 74 retains the latch in hooked engagement with bar 63 and has a cammed or curved under edge 75. Thus the latch 68 of each platform hooks onto the bar 63 of an adjacent platform and is retained in such engagement by the weight of arm 74. A leaf spring 76 fixed to an inclined edge 77 of each plate 65 has a free edge engaging beneath log 69 to normally retain the latch against flying out of engagement with the bar 63 due to any sudden shock. The latches prevent side sway of the platforms on the straightaway portions of the track.

Means is provided to release or disengage the latches and hold them in released condition around curves. To this end, at each curved portion 18 of the track, there is mounted on the bottom wall 13 of the track, a central longitudinally curved actuating cam 80 having beveled edges 81 at its ends. As a platform approaches a curve, arm 74 engages cam 80 to swing the latch up to disengaged position. At the end of the curve, the arm 74 rides down the end ramp or incline 81 to again latch the adjacent platform.

It will now be understood that automobiles A may be driven onto any platform while the platforms are not moving. The platforms may be moved to any desired position and the automobile may be driven off the platform to any desired area 23 on either the inner parking surface 20 or the outer surface 21.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

LAS possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a fiat parking surface having a depressed circuitous track wholly therein providing inner and outer parking surfaces, a plurality of longitudinal automobile carriers comprising platforms adapted to support automobiles, said carriers being disposed on said circuitous track, said circuitous track having straightaway portions interconnected by curved portions, said platforms being in the plane of said surfaces, the platforms in the straightaway portions being side by side and traversing the track whereby automobiles may move from said surfaces onto said platforms, means to interpivot an inner corner of each platform to an adjacent inner corner of an adjacent platform, means to support said platforms for movement on said track, and motive drive means on selected platforms to move said platforms around the track, in combination with means to releasably latch each platform to an adjacent platform in the straightaway portions of the track.

2. The combination of claim 1, in combination with means to release said latching means at the curved portions of the track.

3. The combination of claim 1, said latching means comprising a lever pivoted to one platform, and having a hooked portion, the adjacent platform having a slot to receive said hooked portion, and means to be engaged thereby, and said lever comprising a weighted arm to normally lower the hooked portion into said slot.

4. The combination of claim 3, in combination with cam means on the track to engage said weighted arm to raise said hooked portion out of said slot.

5. In combination with a parking surface area having a circuitous sunken track wholly therein providing parking surfaces inside of and outside of said track, and comprising straightaway portions interconnected by curved portions, a plurality of carriers each comprising an elongated platform adapted to carry an automobile, and means to support said platforms for movement on the bottom of the track, and said platforms extending side by side transversely of the track and in the plane of the parking surfaces, with the ends of the platforms close to the sides of the track, so that automobiles may roll from said surfaces onto said platforms or from said platforms onto said surfaces, at any positions of the platforms on the track, the width of said inside and outside parking surfaces being at least equal to the length of said platforms, and means to interpivot inner ends of adjacent platforms whereby said platforms may move in side by side condition on the straightaways and swing about their inner ends in the curved portions of the track, and means to move said interpivoted platforms along the track, said moving means comprising motive means on one or more platforms and including rotary drive means engaging the bottom of the track, in combination with releasable latch means to connect each platform, outwardly of its inner end, to an adjacent platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,648 Wright June 20, 1911 1,718,512 Wright et al. June 25, 1929 1,851,262 Riblet Mar. 29, 1932 1,861,659 Fox June 7, 1932 1,998,290 Schraeder Apr. 16, 1935 2,846,087 Nilsson et a1 Aug. 5, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,998 Belgium Sept. 16, 1950 

